Assistant Research Professor: The Department of Plant of Plant and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University is seeking applicants for an Assistant Research Professor in plant stress physiology. This position will be a 12-month non-tenure track, 100% research appointment with an anticipated starting date of October 15, 2019. Funding for this position is available for five years from the date of hire. The incumbent will work in concert with faculty and staff from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences as well as others to develop advanced data management systems and bioinformatics tools using unmanned aerial systems/vehicles (UAS/UAV) to enhance crop production.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The overarching goal of this position is to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to develop advanced UAS/UAV systems for data management and bioinformatics that integrate genetics by environment by management data into precision crop management. Specific goals of this position are as follows: 1) develop best practices for collecting imagery and data using UAS/UAV to detect plant stress and/or soil health; 2) develop algorithms that automate UAV image processing to detect plant stress and/or soil health; and 3) develop decision support tools that incorporate imagery in order to optimize productivity and sustainability within Mid-South agricultural production systems. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty and staff in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, the United States Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service, and the Geosystems Research Institute at Mississippi State University as well as others to meet these objectives. Regional and multi-state collaboration on research projects is expected as well as the ability to garner extramural funding to support research efforts. Instructional responsibilities include active participation in supervising and training graduate students. Demonstrated publication experience in refereed journals is critical. Service to the department, college, university as well as professional societies is expected.

Minimum Qualifications: The position is open until filled. Earned Ph.D. in plant physiology or closely related field (ABD’s will be considered). A strong row crop background and familiarity with modern agricultural production practices are preferred. Knowledge of UAS/UAV’s is very desirable. Applicant must have excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability of organizational and leadership skills are important as well as the willingness to address issues in a team environment.

Applicant Instructions: Applicants must apply online at www.jobs.msstate.edu. A letter of application, personal C.V., and names/addresses/emails of at least four (4) professional references should be forwarded to Dr. Darrin Dodds, Department Head, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University, Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 37962. Nominations are encouraged and should be sent to the same address.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.